Water Ermine (Spilosoma urticae, (Esper, 1789))

General Information
Pupates in leaf litter.
Overwinters as Overwinters as a pupa.
Both sexes readily come to light, sometimes in numbers.

Forewing length: 18-21mm.
Foodplant(s): Water Mint (Mentha aquatica), Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum), Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica), Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus), herbaceous plants
Flying: One generation, June-July
UK Presence: Resident
National status: Nationally Scarce B

Habitat

Fens, wet meadows, marshes, ditches, vegetated shingle.

Regional Information

There are no records in the system yet in Huntingdonshire.

Similar Species

Photo © Peter Bissell

White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda

Great Staughton

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2062 (ABH72.021) Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae, (Esper, 1789)

KR10568